What does it tell us, that you can clip/cap or whatever you want to call it.

Installing 550 watt panels with a 5 kva inverter can be done.

Check your VOC is within the limits and you are good to go.

IF you are a DIY guy who enjoys tinkering, you have full control over your system and paid for the system yourself, then really speaking the sky is the limit. There is not limit, come winter you crank it up to compensate for the looses, come end of winter and you forget to clip/cap the power and poof, no big deal, lesson learnt.

Now lets look at the installer doing the same thing, he forgets to clip/cap the power in spring, something goes bang, who has to pay the bill.

Or another scenerio, someone facotry resets the unit and its the middle of summer, nobody is aware of the clipping/cap, bang MPPT in it's moer in, who pays.

I stick to the data sheet, the recommmeded installation advice, including spacing and all those other silly things.

To answer empowered, the simple answer is no, I wouldnt take a chance if if is for a customer.

Can you connect a 550 watt panel to a 5 kva inverter, I dont see why not, if the VOC is within the range and the power is capped to keep the power and current below the limit, why not ?